20And immediately he was proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, that this one is the Son of God. [9:21] All those hearing were being amazed and were saying, "Is this not the one who having ravaged those calling on this name in Jerusalem, and had come here for this very purpose — that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?" [9:22] But Saul was being empowered all the more and was confounding the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this one is the Christ.
ACT 9:20-22
Saul Preaches at Damascus
In the world it was spoken into
In the synagogues of Damascus, Saul’s proclamation of Jesus as the Son of God would have been deeply unsettling to his Jewish audience. Synagogues were centers of Jewish communal life, where Torah was taught and Jewish identity was reinforced. Saul’s sudden shift from persecutor to proclaimer of Jesus would have been shocking, especially given his reputation as a zealous Pharisee who had previously sought to destroy the fledgling Jesus movement in Jerusalem. The term (proclaiming) carried the weight of an authoritative, public declaration, akin to a herald’s announcement, which would have added to the gravity of his message. The astonishment of the hearers reflects their bewilderment at Saul’s transformation and the audacity of his claims. His ability to confound the Jews by proving Jesus as the Christ would have disrupted their theological assumptions and communal cohesion, particularly in a city like Damascus, where Jewish and Hellenistic cultures intersected.
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How other translations render this
ACT 9:20
- KJV
- And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
- BSB
- Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
- Koinōnos
- And immediately he was proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, that this one is the Son of God.
ACT 9:21
- KJV
- But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
- BSB
- All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isnʼt this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasnʼt he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
- Koinōnos
- All those hearing were being amazed and were saying, "Is this not the one who having ravaged those calling on this name in Jerusalem, and had come here for this very purpose — that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?
ACT 9:22
- KJV
- But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
- BSB
- But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
- Koinōnos
- But Saul was being empowered all the more and was confounding the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this one is the Christ.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ACT 9:20
- he was proclaiming:The word translated 'he was proclaiming' refers to a public, authoritative declaration, often by a herald or messenger, not merely speaking or teaching privately.
ACT 9:21
- Were amazed:The term translated 'were amazed' suggests a state of being utterly astonished or beside oneself, as if one's mind had been displaced or put out of its normal state.
- having caused havoc:The word translated 'having caused havoc' describes a violent act of destroying, ravaging, or plundering, often used in the context of laying waste to cities or territories.
ACT 9:22
- was confounding:The word translated 'was confounding' implies a strong sense of throwing into confusion, mixing up, or disturbing, often to the point of causing disarray or bewilderment.